Table of Contents
Chairman of the selection committee Ajit Agarkar faced several challenging questions about team selection during a public appearance. Presenter Danish Sait put the former Indian pacer on the spot during a light-hearted interaction, leading to an exchange about the pressures involved in selecting national squads.
The interaction took place at the ESPNcricinfo Awards ceremony in Mumbai on Saturday, May 30. The awards event was held a day before the much-awaited IPL 2026 final between defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Ajit Agarkar Opens Up On Selecting India's T20 World Cup-Winning Squad
Ajit Agarkar responded cautiously when asked about his reaction to selecting India's T20 World Cup-winning squad. The chief selector smiled and noted that comments about team selection can often be taken out of context.
"I have to be careful what I say. Things could get taken out of context. Yes, it was nice to relive that moment because I was there, and yes, it was nice to pick that team," said Agarkar.
The Men in Blue had a successful campaign at the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup. India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, lifted the trophy on home soil after defeating New Zealand by 96 runs in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
"I'm Still Trying To Find Ways" - Ajit Agarkar On Informing Players About Selection Snubs
Ajit Agarkar admitted that informing players about selection decisions remains one of the most challenging parts of his role. The chairman of selectors said that, in a country with a vast pool of talented cricketers, communicating disappointing news to players is an ongoing responsibility.
"I'm still trying to find ways. It's an everyday process," Agarkar replied when asked how he informs players about being left out of squads.
India lost only one group-stage match against South Africa during the T20 World Cup. The team recorded victories over the United States, Namibia, Pakistan, the Netherlands, Zimbabwe, the West Indies, and England before defeating New Zealand in the final to secure another T20 world title.
Don't Put Me On The Spot - Ajit Agarkar Avoids Revealing Selection Secrets
Ajit Agarkar avoided revealing any details about upcoming selection discussions when the presenter tried to get more information. The chief selector jokingly asked not to be put on the spot, pointing out that an important selection meeting was just around the corner.
"Don't put me on the spot. It's not the night. There's a selection coming up in a few days," Agarkar said, drawing laughter from the audience.
Several players justified the selectors' decisions during India's successful T20 World Cup campaign. Sanju Samson won the Player of the Tournament award after scoring 321 runs, including a crucial 89 off 46 balls in the final against New Zealand.
Jasprit Bumrah was named Player of the Match in the final for his 4/15. He finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker of the tournament with 14 wickets. Abhishek Sharma recorded the fastest fifty of the competition off 18 balls, while Ishan Kishan scored 317 runs and provided explosive starts at the top of the order.
Also read: 6,6,6,6,6,6: Kushal Bhurtel emulates Yuvraj Singh and Kieron Pollard with six sixes in an over
